Evaluation of a Collaborative Intervention to Promote Early Employer Contact and Return to Work Among People With Common Mental Disorders or Long-term Pain

The overall aim of this cluster ranomized controlled trial is to investigate whether an intervention for collaboration between patient with CMD or chronic pain and employer (the Demand and Ability Protocol) can contribute to reduced sick leave and to increased health, work ability and trust in the managers. The intervention is delivered by rehabilitation coordinators at primary health care centres.

Furthermore, the aim is to identify hindering and facilitating factors for feasibility, usability and implementation of the Demand and Ability Protocol intervention (DAP) in primary health care.

Research questions:

1. What is the effect of DAP for patients regarding sick leave, health, work ability, and trust in the manager compared to matched controls who do not recieve DAP?
2. How do patients and managers experience their participation in the intervention and how do they experience the usability of the DAP?
3. What facilitating and hindering factors exist for the introduction and implementation of DAP in primary health care, and how do rehabilitation coordinators (REKO) and medical doctors experience the feasibility and usability of the intervention?